State Parks Blog

State parks are meant to be a place to recharge and reflect, but over the last few years some of our parks have become more crowded than a playoff Braves game. If you want to know how to escape the crowds and reconnect with nature this summer, look no further. We picked out our most secluded beaches, favorite hikes, and quiet retreats for those looking to get away from it all. So pack your sunscreen, get your ParkPass, and get ready to explore some of Georgia’s best kept secrets.

Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites are home to many unique plant species, none more so than the carnivorous pitcher plant. These unusual plants, found in moist boggy areas, sport funnel- or tube-shaped leaves that ensnare insects, which the plants digest as a source of nutrients.

This Lake Allatoona getaway recently received major upgrades throughout the park.

Jarrell Plantation is participating in a forest management project to improve 175 acres of habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW). This robin-sized species was classified as federally endangered in 1970 due to habitat loss of open pine woodlands and longleaf pines. The project will also benefit Bachman’s sparrows, Henslow’s sparrows, prairie warblers, and other declining grassland species. If successful, Jarrell will be the first Georgia State Historic Site or State Park to support red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Being a park ranger is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. They are tasked with caring for Georgia’s public lands, ensuring visitors have a great time and feel safe. The days are filled with a wide range of duties. A ranger might balance budgets in the morning, mow lawns in the afternoon, conduct a box turtle program in the evening, and fix a fire alarm in the middle of the night. How do these park ranger moms handle all these responsibilities all while raising their children? It starts with good priorities.